For startups and fintechs, the story is strong where it matters: capital flow and execution velocity.
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, 1 February 2026: Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has decisively and consistently chosen action over ambivalence, reform over rhetoric and people over populism.
While presenting the Union Budget 2026-27 in Parliament today, she said that the Government is inspired by 3 kartavya, out of which the first kartavya is to accelerate and sustain economic growth, by enhancing productivity and competitiveness, and building resilience to volatile global dynamics.
Dr. Ritesh Jain, a global fintech and digital infrastructure leader, investor, and advisor, is known for shaping payments innovation and open banking across markets. Formerly with HSBC, Visa, Apple, and Maersk, he now advises institutions and startups on building resilient, future-ready financial ecosystems.
Dr. Ritesh Jain, elaborates:
"Union Budget 2026 makes one thing clear: technology is no longer a sector in India — it is the operating system of growth.
This Budget moves beyond digital adoption and signals something far more strategic: India is designing for sovereignty, scale, and investability. The expansion of the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 (₹40,000 crore) is not just an industrial push—it is a future-proofing decision. Semiconductors will define AI, fintech infrastructure, mobility, defence and next-generation compute, and India is finally building capability across the value chain.
Equally important is the push for AI-ready digital infrastructure—data centres, cloud incentives, and platform-friendly policy choices that improve the ease of scaling for SaaS, cybersecurity, and digital product companies.
For startups and fintechs, the story is strong where it matters: capital flow and execution velocity. Measures like the SME Growth Fund, CGTMSE expansion, and TReDS strengthen MSME liquidity—fuel for embedded finance, digital lending and cross-border B2B payments.
This is not a headline Budget. It is a platform Budget. India is not just enabling innovation—it is engineering it."
